Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Biopsy for Endometrial Cancer at Early Stage with Laparoscopy
Published on: August 19, 2021
Quality of life after sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer
G Dubernard1, L Sideris, S Delaloge
1Department of Surgery, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. gil.dubernard@tnn.ap-hop-paris.fr
Aim:
This study assessed the effects of multiple therapeutic factors on quality of life (QOL) in the treatment of breast cancer.
Methods:
We surveyed 179 recurrence-free women with early breast cancer who had undergone a sentinel lymph node procedure, between January 1999 and June 2001. Age, tumour size, breast and axillary procedure, nodal status, chemotherapy, supra-clavicular fossa radiotherapy, and hormone therapy were tested as possible factors associated with poor QOL.
Results:
Information on QOL was obtained for 148 out of 179 patients. Age less than 55 years and chemotherapy were factors associated with impairment of physical well-being. Tumour size was associated with poor socio-familial well-being. Factors associated with altered arm subscale scores were age <55, axillary procedure, nodal status, chemotherapy and supra-clavicular fossa radiotherapy. Unexpectedly, sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure delayed the onset of chemotherapy if the metastatic status of SLN was not diagnosed intra-operatively.
Conclusion:
Efforts are needed to improve the QOL of young patients. Axillary procedure affects only QOL related to arm morbidity.
